Prologue
It has been almost 4 months since the dark grey clouds of adversity cleared from over the relationship that Shantanu and Khanak had preserved religiously since past eight years.
All confusions were cleared……….. their parents had agreed for their wedding and the best part was that their main concern about Jai had been addressed. He was getting married too…… to Dr. Ragini…………who was not only his doctor but also his first best friend now……. very comfortably she had nudged Shantanu and Khanak a step down from their position of first best friends of Jai………….
And they did not mind at all……………. They were too happy for both of them…..
Jai wanted to get married only when he was able to walk a little……………no matter how less !!
Shantanu and Khanak wanted to get married only after Jai and Akshay got married.
Madhavi took it as a mission to search for a pretty and eligible bride for Akshay as she wanted to see Shantanu and Khanak get married as soon as possible.
Shantanu and Khanak spent a beautiful time together in past four months…….. they dated …….. they went for movies……..shopping…….. dinners…….. and theatre.
As always………they talked for hours, amusing everyone else who wondered what they talked for so long, days together and could see no one else when they were around each other !!!
As always……..they fought and made up……….kissed and fought again !!
None of their fights lasted more than a few hours…………none of them carried the burden of malice towards the other !!
As always…………they teased each other……..made fun of their weaknesses…….. apologized and were back to square one…………as always !!!
Savita arranged for get togethers and all of them usually sat together till late night and chatted away to glory.
Shantanu had joined Khandelwal Group as the Country Head – Operations and was doing absolutely well. He had managed to earn the same respect from the board of Directors and staff and employees as he had in The Graceful You group.
Khanak wanted to join him too but Savita refused to let go of her. She reasoned that with two weddings lined up in a few months time……….She had loads of work pending to be done ……….. from shopping to household chores and as Jai could not accompany her, she was dependent on Khanak for everything. Moreover she wanted to pamper her little girl before she left for her future home.
She asked Khanak to join Shantanu after they got married. Shantanu and Khanak were reluctant initially but when she said that they were allowed to meet after and beyond the office everyday………..they gave in.
The late night last phone call had become almost a ritual and Shaan never failed to call her even when he was very busy.
Jai and Ragini spent a lot of time together too……
Last four months flew away in a quick snap…………..
Hard times pass with difficulty !!...Good times have wings !!!
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Part 1.
It was a beautiful Monday and as usual Shantanu was in his office before time.
He was given the most swanky cabin with latest gadgets and stylish furniture.
Sunil Khandelwal was very particular when it came to providing the best for his sons. Both Akshay and Shaan had perfect cabins, phones, laptops and even the best of furniture selected by Sunil himself.
Akshay was cool about it all though Shaan loved to take his own decisions. But when it came to office and work environment, he let Sunil take his initiative as it made him feel happy that he was making his sons comfortable.
Sunil loved it when Shaan and Akshay smiled and felt comfortable…………he took pride in the fact that his two kids were now grown ups and were very efficient in matters regarding business. He had always seen a dream of watching his business…….. that he had set up with years of hard work………grow and flourish with his sons.
Shaan reached his cabin, placed his laptop and the files on the table and picked up the phone to call her……
"Hey sweetheart !!"
"You are late……" she woke up and sat on the bed still sleepy.
He simply loved her sleepy voice and imagined her straightening herself…….with her crumpled dress and ruffled hair……..eyes half –closed. She made a lovable picture in his mind when he closed his eyes thinking of her.
"No, I reached office on time……." he spoke trying to irritate her.
"Very funny….."
"I know I am…………."
"Tch……..Tch……."
"Meet me in the evening."
"Not today…….."
"Why?" he twitched his lips in frustration.
"We are going to the jewellers' today !!"
"Jewellers?? Who wears heavy jewellery these days ? Why waste money??"
"Err………..you are right……….But still I have to go……….Ma wants to buy a lot of jewellery for me and Ragini."
"How's Jai?"
"He's fine………….why don't you call yourself?"
"I will…………in the mean time, give him a message………..if you are not meeting me……then, I'll be coming to meet him in the evening………"
"No…………you are not coming to my home……….go to your home and prepare nicely for the wedding!!"
"What do I do? My mom is not shopping for anything………"he laughed.
"Shaan, I am just not going to sit with you for the wedding if you don't turn up well dressed….." she warned him.
"And what does that well dressed mean?"his naughty eyebrows were raised.
"A nice sherwaani……….preferably a designer one, since you can afford…….. hair well cut and clean shaven look….."
"Oh No !! So you mean, this 'hawt' stubble won't do?" he teased her.
"Shaaa-aaan !!" she spoke frustrated, "Does anyone come to his wedding in a stubble? And no it won't do!!"
"What about Jeans and T-Shirt?" He chuckled.
"Eeekksss!!! I am so not going to marry you if you land up like a angry young man straight out of a movie………"
He laughed out loudly, "And I thought that you love films and filmy stuff……"
"I am just not laughing…………I am serious."
He laughed more with her tone and said, "I think you too dump this wedding attire, trousseau and jewellery………lets get married in a simple way………"
"What is that?" she asked slowly, indulging him.
"Just the two of us…………" he spoke with a flirtatious bent to his tone.
She blushed looking at her fingers and one of it adorning the ring that he gave her. She didn't speak anything…..
He continued, "You in a simple saree and me in denim jeans and Polo Tee……."
She was back to present, out of her dream world, "No……….no Shaan. I love the wedding our parents are arranging for us…………it feels so special."
"What is so special about it? So much of hungama, so much of nuisance, crowd of relatives, heavy attires, intolerable music and nonstop nonsense for 4-5 days. So much of wastage, of money, of food, of electricity, basically a show business……….I would love to get married in a temple with just your family and mine………"
"Shaan………..I want to explain it to you that………."
"That?" he questioned in a calm tone.
"Nothing………." She left a small breath.
"Tell me………." He asked softly.
"Later………………you have just reached the office and you should be working right now…"
"Alright………but do complete it……….before the wedding."
"Sure…...maybe tomorrow..." She smiled, knowing very well that there was no point arguing with him.
"Okay, ask Ma – Can Shaan come to the jewellers?"
"What !! No………….I am not going to ask that?"
"Why ?"
"Shaan, this is so not done…………. There are still 2 months to go……… you just cannot hang around with me everywhere."
"But why?"
"It doesn't look nice……………what will Ma think?"
"She knows me…………..more than you, okay?"
"Be it…………..I am not asking anything and we are not meeting today."
He made a disgusted sound, "Go and shop for whatever jewellery you feel like……… as if I am going to let you wear it…….."
"Bye !!"
"Think again…………….I can help choose nice, easily removable designs……."
He teased her again knowing that she will blush hard.
"Sheeeshh !!!! Keep quiet………..put your dirty mind to rest………or it won't let you work."
"Fine then…………….I am going for a business meet tomorrow……..it is in Bangalore."
"When will you come?"
"By tomorrow evening…………it is a day – conference. I'll be going in the morning and will come back by the late evening."
"Have dinner with me then?"
"Wow !! what an invite !! I'm honoured………….so Ma'm, Let's meet at dinner tomorrow. I'll pick you up after I come back from Bangalore."
"No, just let me know the flight details. I'll pick you up at the IGI Airport."
"Perfectt !!!"
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
